Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-09-15

Tears. one 1eu on her knees at the
duchess's feet, crying out that she could
never be forgiven; she wished she could
die; What should she dop The duke,
by gesture, commanded silence. Jen-
MES passionate sobs died away.
"Now," said the duke, ''let me hear
what this means.
"Mrs. Hilton" said the duke to the
housekeeper, Twill you explainp
ct is as your grace sees, she replied.
"The safe has been broken open and
the duchess's Jewels are all stolen"
''All of themP" he asked, quickly.
1.-The cases are emptied," replied the
housekeeper.
sect up from your knees" said the
Jewels were under your charge. What
have you to sayP"
Jennie was frightened into obedience.
81 can only tell the truth, your
grace" she said. ~ cannot explain.
When had finished dressing her grace,
| collected all the lace and locked that
away; then | collected the jewels, ar
ranged all the cases, locked up the safe,
drew down the panel slide, and went
out. did go out. | was absent from
eight until ten, but had the keys with
me the whole me. "
"Did you ask permission to be alb
sentp" questioned the duke, sternly.
mo, your grace; I went without per-
mission" was the humble reply.
"Where did you goP' demanded the
duke, and the chances are that if he had
pressed the question this story would
have taken quite different turn.
II went to see friend your grace.
murmured Jennie, and she looked so
distressed that the duke said to himself,
Her sweetheart, probably"
"You locked the safe and took the
keys away with you at eight o clockP
You kept the keys the whole time your
self9 AT what hour. did you return?"
asked the duke.
"At ten, your grace. Mrs. Grey told
me she had heard a noise in the dress
ing room. | came at once and found
the safe open and the Jewels gone"
what did you hear in the dressing
room, Mrs. Grey?" asked the duke,
courteously.
She told him that at nine o'clock she
had card strange sound and had
gone to the door of the room, not liking
to enter in her grace's absence. She
fuyther sound she had gone back again.
"What was the sound likep"
81 fancied something was being cut
through" she replied
evidently the safe was being forced
open," said the duke, land the locks
of the cases broken. Now, the question
is, Who is the thief? It must of neces =
sity be some one who knows the secret
of the safe and where the jewels were
kept"
Why did Mrs Grey at that moment
look at the duchess? Their late con-
versation rose TO the minds of both of
them.
every few inmates Of the household
know really where the duchess's dia-
monds were kept--Mrs. Hilton and
Barnes, and Jennie Dane | do not
think any OF tie under servants know
anything about it.
/ knew" sa d Mrs. Grey, in clear
low tone. "IIer grace told me this
evening before she went out"
The duke bowed. Clearly enough
that information was of little import
ance.
"Who is the tbief?'' repeated the
duke. as it one of our own household.
or has some one broke in during the
absence of the lady's maid?"
The duke went hi self to the window
nothing was disaranged, it shut,
but not fastened. Jennie Dane said it
never was kept fastened, because the
duchess liked a continual current of
fresh air.
THAT is true" said the duchess. 81
have told my maid repeatedly not to
fasten the window
ct was hardly prudent. my dear,
with all those aluab!e jewels there"
said the duke, gently.
"if might suggest to your grace"
said Barnes, the butler, ''it would be
better to leave O. erything just as it is
and send for the police"
"You are right, Barnes" said the
duke: sit will be best. "
Just then the stable clock struck one
alt will be useless to attempt any.
thing tonight" he said, 'but we will
send to Clavering the first thing in the
morning. Mrs. trey, you look i'll;
you had better 60 to your room Ethel,
you are tired; 90 to rest Mrs. II lton,
see that the servants all retire to their
own rooms Barnes, it will be better
for you to sit up.
But no one slept in the castle that
night The young duchess was grieved
and distressed at the loss of her Jewels,
not so mu h because of their costly rari-
ty as because they were family heir
looms that nothing could replace. She
was grieyed also because in that safe
ere were jewels of her own, given to
her by her father, Lord Stair. Some
had belonged to her mother, and she
priced these even more than the Meath
diamonds. She went to her room, first
having babe kindly good night to
Mrs. Grey, whose pale face distressed
her, and again, as she said ''good
night" she remembered their CONVEX
sation, and thought to herself how
strange it was that the remark about
the safety of the diamonds should have
been made.
The duke did not 90 to rest; lc could
not sleep; he was more disturbed than
he cared to own; after all, although he
was rich man, it was terrible loss.
He passed restless night, and with the
first ray of dawn he rode to Clavering
and reported the matter to the SUI
perinten dent of olice.
'Itwas daring robbery, your grace, !"
said that official. "My men shall come
if you like but do not think in case
of this kind they will be of any use /
should advise your grace to telegraph
to SEQ land Yard, and have one of their
best detectives sent down at once"
"You really think that the best planp"
al am sure it is" replied she SUPER